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Flowering crabapple branches announce the coming of spring. You can enjoy the fragrant blossoms a few weeks before the tree comes into bloom by forcing branches indoors. Collect crabapple branches in February, once the buds begin to swell. The hardiness of crabapple trees varies with the species and cultivar. Most will bloom in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 or 5 through 8 or 9.

1

Cut lateral stems of new growth that are attached to a main branch using hand pruners. Choose those that have lots of flower buds. Make sure the loss of the stem won't affect the shape of the tree. Cut near the point where the stem attaches to the main branch so that you don't leave a stub.

2

Fill a large container with room temperature water and submerge the crabapple branches in water. Leave them to soak several hours or overnight.

3

Stand the crabapple branches in a bucket of water and place the bucket in a cool location for 2 days; warm temperatures at this stage reduce the quality of the flowers. Mist the branches from time to time to help keep the buds moist.

4

Remove the crabapple branches from the water and re-cut the ends of the stems. Scrape off the lower two inches of bark on each stem. Change the water in the bucket and put the branches back into the water.

5

Move the bucket to a location with bright, indirect sunlight. Change the water once or twice a week to prevent bacterial growth and re-cut the bottom of the stems weekly. Watch for buds to open in 2 to 3 weeks.

6

Arrange the branches in a vase of water. Prepare a floral preservative according to the package instructions and use it to prevent the growth of bacteria and prolong the display. Continue re-cutting the stems and changing the water at least weekly.

Things You Will Need

Hand pruners

Large plastic bin or bucket

Bucket of water

Sharp knife

Vase

Floral preservative

Tips

Crabapple branches have both leaf and flower buds. Flower buds are larger than leaf buds and more rounded in shape.

Cut a few more branches than you need, as some branches may refuse to bloom.

Take a bucket of water into the garden if you aren't planning to bring them indoors right away. Place the cut ends of the stems in the water and set the bucket in a shady spot.

If you don't have a container large enough to submerge the entire branch in water, you can stand the cut ends in water and wrap the tops in wet newspaper.

About the Author

Jackie Carroll has been a freelance writer since 1995. Her home-and-garden and nature articles have appeared in "Birds & Blooms" and "Alamance Today." She holds a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from the University of North Carolina.